Muslims in the Third Millennium || Imam Reza (A.S.) Network

Muslims in the Third Millennium

By Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr
The early Muslims have taken the initiative and contributed to the future generations. Europe has benefited tremendously from their efforts. The early Muslims were pioneers in science and culture and contributed to basic sciences as physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine and astronomy. They pioneered in arts and culture, such as geography, navigation, aviation, philosophy, poetry, social sciences and humanities. Some of those pioneers are Ibn Sina, Ibn Al-Haytham, Al-Bayrooni, Al-Khazin, Al-Khawarizmi, Ibn Khaldoon, Al-Ghazali, Ar-Razi, Ibn Ishaq, etc. Early Muslims pioneered in the religious sciences such as Hadith, Sirah, compilation of the Qur’an, Fiqh, Tafseer and delivering the message of Islam to non-Muslims by being ambassadors of the Prophet (SAW).
Later in the history of Islam, Muslims went into decadence and dormancy. They were, therefore, colonized, exploited, and enslaved by the western people. They were invaded by crusaders, and are up till now being exploited by other powers of the world. During the 19th and 20th centuries of colonization, some Muslim religious scholars assumed their role to awaken the Muslims masses.
The land of Islam nowadays is taken away from the Muslims. Muslims in their homelands are killed, persecuted, tortured, jailed either by the self-imposed leaders or by the non-Muslims. Remember the Assam massacre, the Sabra and Shatila massacres, the Afghan plight, Palestinian plight, Bosnia, Kosova, Chechnya, Kashmir, Somalia, Eretria, Philippines, and many more problems in different parts of the world. It seems many of us talk about the good past and the present plight. Very few of us are talking about the future. We are proud of our Islamic heritage, but what have we done for the future so that our children will be proud of us? If we wish to stay in America, we have to make da’wa (a call to Islam). There is no reason for us to stay in this part of the world unless we establish the Deen of Allah. The Qur’an says:
“Say: This is my Way: I call to Allah, I and those who follow me being certain, and glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists.” (12:108)
In order to establish the Deen of Allah, Muslims have to make da’wa through teaching, science, technology, journalism, mass media, politics, and many other vehicles. Each one has to take the initiative and play his role in practicing Islam, to apply the teachings of Islam and to deliver its message to mankind. In the Qur’an, Allah says:
”And who speaks better than he who calls to Allah while he himself does good, and says: I am surely of those who submit?” (41:33)
If Muslims want to contribute to the future generations and civilizations, they have to assume their responsibilities. They have to establish Islamic institutions. It is not enough to build centers for prayers which are used once or twice a week. It is more important to establish Institutions of every aspect of life. They have a moral responsibility to present Islam, to contribute to the success of this country, and to establish institutions so that Muslims and non-Muslims may benefit from the results of their efforts. It is not enough to talk about the past, and it is not appropriate to talk about the present plight. Muslims are not to live in the past, but they are to benefit from the past for the sake of the future. One has to remember the proverb of the old person after planting the seeds of an olive-tree, saying:
They planted and we ate, and we are planting so that they, in the future will eat.
Also, one has to remember the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which says:
Work for your worldly affairs as if you are to live forever, and work for your hereafter as if you are to die tomorrow.
In as much as Muslims are proud of their heritage and their ancestors, the same thing is to take place for their offspring. Children are to be proud of their parents because of their achievements, because of their contributions, and because of the institutions that their parents were able to establish. Every community, therefore, has to strive very hard to establish itself. Allah reminded Muslims that only the good hard working people are the ones who are to rule and to establish themselves on earth. In this respect Allah says:
“And certainly We wrote in the Psalms after the Reminder Torah that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it. Most surely in this (Qur’an) is a message to people who serve (US). And We have not sent you but as a Mercy to the worlds.” (21:105-107)
The establishment of Islamic institutions is a symbol of the presence of Islam, and it is a symbol of the presence of a viable Muslim community in the society. Muslims are employees and they will stay employees till they establish themselves; they may be hired one day and be fired the next. They will continue to work within the non-Islamic systems, and will not be proud, because these systems are not theirs and are not Islamic at all. It is the Muslims themselves who are to establish such institutions. It is the Muslims themselves who are to protect such institutions.... and it is the Muslims themselves who are to promote these institutions. When we all talk about Islamic institutions, we are referring to the following and much more:
1. Islamic centers and masajid, around which se are to live and we are to live around them.
2. Islamic elementary, junior and high schools.
3. Islamic colleges and universities.
4. Islamic medical schools.
5. Islamic hospitals and clinics.
6. Islamic banking systems.
7. Islamic political parties.
8. Islamic museums to present the cultural aspects of Islam.
9. Islamic radio and TV stations.
10. Muslims airlines.
11. Islamic daily newspapers.
12. Islamic research, scientific, industrial, and agricultural plants.
13. Islamic dietary laws are to be established and to supply hospitals, airlines, schools and grocery stores.
14. We are to establish Foundations and Endowment Funds (Waqf) to take care of these institutions.
We cannot establish these and many more institutions unless we are united as Muslims firsty, lasty and forever. When we are talking about such institutions, we are to help all people in America. The non-Muslims are to benefit from our efforts in as much as Muslims. We are here to improve the situation in America, while there is:
1. An economic crisis.
2. A high rate of unemployment, and
3. A large number of people are on welfare.
Therefore, it is our duty to take the initiative and to be among the pioneers. For those who are pioneers, Allah praises them in the Qur’an as follows:
“And the formost (in faith) are the foremost. These are they who are drawn night (to Allah). In the gardens of bliss.” (56:10-12)
We are here as Muslims to solve many of the problems that have been created by the non-Muslims. We have dreams, we have hopes and we have visions. We have a dream that for the year 2002, Muslims are to be considered as pioneers in problem solving. Our dream in the year 2001, that every single citizen is to have:
1. A house of his own.
2. Means of transportation.
3. A business of his own.
4. A job, not being unemployed and not being on welfare. We are to change the welfare society into a productive society.
5. Education without the trouble of paying tuition and...
6. Many more... Insha’Allah (God Willing)
Our dreams are not hopes and wishes, but are to be a reality. They were put in action by our Prophet (SAW) and his Companions over 1400 years ago.
The future of Muslims in America is bright. This type of brightness is regarded as HOPE, a DREAM, and a VISION. These three concepts are preceded by HARD WORK... STRIVING... and SACRIFICE.
Muslims are to WORK HARD and not be lazy. They are to work hard for the pleasure of Allah. They are to work hard to achieve a state of perfection or what is called in Arabic: Itqaan or Ihsaan.
Muslims are to STRIVE very hard for the pleasure of Allah. They are to strive very hard to establish the religion of Allah. Muslims are also to SACRIFICE, all that they have been bestowed by Allah. They have to sacrifice their time, efforts, energies, knowledge, wealth, property and even their lives for the pleasure of Allah.
The future of Muslims in America is bright. The number of Muslims has increased 200% in the last decade. This increase is due to a high rate of individuals who are accepting Islam. The quality of activities has improved. In the early sixties, Muslims were busy in search for an identify by having conferences, building masajid and centers. They were trying to establish their professional societies and business enterprises. In the eighties, they established educational schools and colleges. Also, in this decade, they are in the process establishing Islamic hospitals, clinics and banks. Muslims look forward to the days when they will have their own Islamic party.
We look forward to the days when the majority of the American people will accept Islam, and the language of Islam. It is not strange to find throughout history, that many of the descendants of Pharaohs, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Arabs, Turks, Persians, Berbers, Hindus, Chinese, Europeans and others have accepted Islam, the language of Islam, and are ruled by the teachings of Islam. It should be mentioned here that Americans who are suffering a lack of peace, are seeing the beauty of Islam. They have accepted Islam and are living in peace and harmony.
Don’t you want to be witnesses to Allah on the Day of Judgment that you have informed these people about Islam? There is no excuse for anyone of us for not being able to deliver the Message of Islam. If everyone of you takes the initiative to inform one person about Islam - if only one person is to accept Islam by each one of you - then and only then, will we be able to say that America is to be in the future a Muslim country, Insha’Allah.